Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-02-26
SENATE.
R. w. WATERMAN.


Lieutenant-Governor of the State, and
Eek Oficio President of the Senate.
The presiding officer of the Senate is
Hon. r. w. Waterman of San Bernardno.
He is Lieutenant Governor and was elected
upon the Republican ticket at the same
time that the general Democratic State
ticket was triumphant with but two other
exceptions. Governor Waterman, who is
essentially a self-made man, and has
achieved success by his own unaided labor,
was born in Fairfield, Herkimer county,
New York, December Is. 1896. His father,
a merchant died when he was but a mere
lad. Two years thereafter, accompanying
three elder brothers, he went to Sycamore,
Illinois, then sparsely settled and far
west region. Up to his twentieth year he
served as a clerk in a country store, and
there acquired good practical habits and
knowledge in school of business that
only Western merchants experienced. In
1916 he was able to engage in business for
himself as merchant in Belyidere Illinois,
and for quarter of a century conducted
thorough business establishment, at the
same time giving attention to farm and
dealing as a grain buyer. In September,
1S47, he married Miss Jane Gardner of Bel
videre. The couple had seven children,
SIX of whom are living, two sons and
four daughters. In 1850 Mr.. Waterman
came to California with the early tide of
immigration and engaged, as did most
of the men of that day, in mining.
Two years later he returned to Illinois.
having moved to Wilmington. He was
among the first active Republicans of the
West in that State, and he has remained
true to the party ever since. He made
California his home in 1873, locating at
San Bernardino in the succeeding year.
He became early interested in mining,
being one of the discoveries of the
Calico mines in that county, but
has been extensively interested also in
farming, and his knowledge CT agriculture
is thorough and of the soundly practical
character. At his home Governor Water
man stands high In the esteem of the peo-
pie, and enjoys their confidence in degree
gratifying to all hgh-minded men who
value the respect of the people. He is
everywhere spoken of with warmth, testi-
flying to the high place he fills in the CON-
munity. His personal popularity, well
earned by long life of uprightness and
purity, was testified 10 by The fiattering vote
he received throughout the State in the last
election. Until his election he had few if any
aspirations to fill office, but was Postmaster
at Genoa, ILL.,. under the Administration OF
President Zachary Taylor. The nomina-
tlOn that leo 10 DIS present election was
unsought-it was a case of the office seek
ing the man, in the truest sense. Governor
Waterman is a member of the National
Bimetallic Coinage Association, of which
Hon. j. P Jones, of Nevada. is President.
He is an earnest worker in the interests eff
the Association, and labors to secure free
coinage. He is so deeply interested in this
matter that at the opening of the next ses-
sion of Congress he will leave California
for Washington in behalf of that interest
The Secretary of the Association recently
addressed the Governor letter requesting
him to exert himself in procuring express
sion by our Legislature in the interests of
free coinage, and in aid of the association
work. Governor Waterman came to the
chair of the Senate without previous ex-
perience as a presiding officer. He has
acquitted himself in a manner that has
commanded the respect of that body and
the people, despite the fact that he came to
the place uuskilled as parliamentarian.
Governor Waterman is man of strong
character, firm of purpose, of kindly IA
ture, Just and open in his dealings with
men, true to friends, forgiving, just and
sound of judgment. In Sacramento he
has now hosts of friends and the more he
is known the greater the respect enter
tanned for him. He is not loquacious,
but of clear perceptive powers and close and
accurate observation.